Cost: Downing Street says no additional cost to taxpayers, funded
Burnham ended his first week as PM by working out of the new No 10 North, external, based at Heron House in Manchester’s city centre, which he claimed will be the “situation room for making Britain better”.
He’s expected to work from there each week, with other ministers including Education Secretary Lucy Powell and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Louise Haigh, who is overseeing the department as part of her role, also working there on a regular basis.
Up to 300 civil servants are expected to join the operation by the end of the next year, but Downing Streets insists it will cost taxpayers no extra money.
“The running of No 10 North will be covered by existing Cabinet Office budgets. There is no additional cost to taxpayers”, Burnham’s spokesman told reporters earlier this week.